Saddletree.



No. 870,857. PATENTED Nov. 12, 1907.- G.J.THE0BALD.

SADDLETREE.

APPLIOATION rum) AUG. 1. 190e.

GEORGE I. THEOBALD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SADD LETREE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed August l 1906. Serial No. 328.663.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. THEOBALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county oi Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Saddletrees, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to harness saddle-trees, and has for its object to provide a novel saddle-tree which is constructed to give a better support to the skirt than saddle-trees as commonly constructed and in which a shorter jockey may be used.

I will first describe one embodiment oi my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear view of a saddletree embodying my invention, one side oi said figurel showing the saddle-tree in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of one side oi the saddle-tree; Fig. 3 is a perspective view; Fig. 4 isa perspectiveview o the upper portion oi the skirt.

The saddle-tree is formed at each side with two side arms 3 and 4 from which project the usual flanges 5 and 6. These arms 3 and 4 are connected at the top oi the saddle by a bridge-piece 7 over which the backstrap 8 passes as usual. 9 designates the usual turret bridge which also connects the arms 3 and 4.

In my improved saddle-tree the flanges 5 and 6 terminate at the turret bridge 9, and extending from the arms 3 and 4 beyond said bridge are rests 10 which are situated'near the lower edge of the arms 3 and 4, as best seen in Fig. 3, the space 11 between the flanges 5 and 6 and the rests 10 being suflcient to receive the skirt 12. The extreme end of the arms 3 and 4 are connected by bridge 13. The skirt 12, which may be of any suitable length, isormed at its upper end as shown in Fig. 4, that is, it is cut away topresent the fingers 14.

In applying the skirt to the saddle-tree the two fingers are inserted in the openings 11 and extend under the flanges 5 and 6 to which they are secured. The rests l() furnish a firm support for the skirt which extends clear to the edges thereof, and thus prevents the skirt Afrom breaking down at this point.

15 designates the usual box through which the back band or strap 8 passes. In most saddle-trees this box is usually situated some distance below the turret-bridge 9, and in order to cover the saddle-tree a comparatively long jockey has to be used. In my present invention I secure the box directly to the rests 10, and said box,

therefore, is situated closely adjacent to the turret I .struetion is employed the lower layers only of the skirt would be to cut out to present the lingers 14, said layers extending beneath the flanges 5 and 6 while the upper layer would extend above said flange and take the place of the usual jockey.

It will be understood, of course, that the layers forming the skirt are sewed together at their edges, as at 18.

My improved saddle-tree is of such a shape that the skirt may be made and the'various parts thereof sewed together, and if a jockey is used the edges of the jockey may-be sewed to the skirt, as at 19, Fig. 2, and after the parts are thus assembled the skirt and jockey may be slipped onto the frame. This is an advantage over the common construction of saddle-tree in which the parts have to be separately applied thereto.

These saddle-trees are usually cast from some metal, and if a light saddle-tree is desired I may make it oi aluminium or some similar material which is light but strong.

Having described my invention what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a saddle-tree, side arms forming a space between them for the back strap, a turret bridge connecting said side arms, flanges extending outwardly and laterally from the upper edges of said side arms, said flanges terminating at the turret bridge, skirt rests 10 extending laterally from the arms beyond the turret bridge, said skirt rests being on a lower plane than the flanges and the space between said rests and the flanges being open, a skirt supported by sad skirt rest and having lingers underlying said flanges, and a box through which the back strap passes secured to said skirt rests.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. T. 'rHEoBALn Witnesses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, BEBTHA F. Hassan. 

